Thursday, December 13, 2007

A Little Early Christmas Present

The girls and I had our homeschool day at Granny's today. We went to do some Christmas cleaning for her. We were able to put clean sheets on her bed, clean her ceiling fans, vacuum and begin cleaning out her closet and packing away some summer clothes. It was a productive morning. But the main news was that Granny had a early Christmas present for them!!!

Isn't he adorable???

He's a feist. I have never even heard of that breed before yesterday. It is close to a Jack Russell. Sometimes they are used in the circus with clowns because they are so smart and easy to train.

Granny came home with us so she could see the boys reaction!!! Everyone is in LOVE!!! :-)

Stephen loves all animals. He will be so happy to have our own dog. Brenda is excited to begin training him.

Tonight we will work on a name. The top names so far are Jody, Elmo, Cutie, Dasher, SuggieBoog.... any more?

We are a family of nine - daddy, mama, and seven little one (who aren't all little anymore!! - 3 are taller than me!!), one cat - Princess (the cat formally known as Prince) and the newest member of the family - Toby, Brenda's PomChi. We live in a small town in South Carolina.

This blog is for my family ~ that they might know my heart for them during my life and after I'm gone. After my mama's death when I was young, I so wished I had some writings about her life. This is my attempt to leave some for my family, especially my girls...

I am from Count Chocula, Spaghettios and Little Debbies, shopping at malls and eating Chick-Fil-A and Long John Silvers (anywhere in a day's driving distance), grabbing a quick chili cheese a plenty from the Beacon (where my mama and daddy use to date) and listening to Elvis.

I am from bike riding, Girl Scouts, dancing and gymnastics. Reading more and more books, the older I get, the more I love them.

I am from a two story white house trimmed in brown, with a room of my own and a play room beside (one of the benefits of being an only child) with a piano in the living room waiting on me to practice!!

I am from a old fashioned Baptist Church - filled with my family and friends and stained glass windows on the sides.

I am from a little southern town, full of yes mam's and ya'lls. Summers spent toasting my body in the warm Myrtle Beach sun, watching the leaves change in the fall and even every now and then enjoying a little snow (even here in South Carolina!!)

I am from THE USC - a converted gamecock through and through.

I am from the USA, my daddy and grandfathers all serving in different branches of service, with my son blazing straight ahead to follow in their footsteps (against all his mama's better judgement!!).

I am from my nanny and papa's house, the one you had to get to by driving up the road covered in trees. I loved to look at the sunshine peeking through every time I road up the hill, sleeping in my papa's night night shirts and helping my nanny cook chicken pot pies for his lunch (we knew there were green peas hiding there - shhhh!! papa doesn't know) and then later playing nurse to my nanny as she was sick and dying.

I am from my Mimi and Grandy, who moved back home to help take care of me when my mama died.

I am from the Oxendines - the most loving people I have ever known, always good for a laugh and a hug, always make you feel better about yourself than you know you really are.

I am from the Clarys - strong, sturdy, God fearing, always there.

I am from my Carolyn, who always stood by my papa's side - even though she wasn't always appreciated for all she did by everyone - she has all my love and respect.

I am from Daria, who taught me what it looked like to love Jesus on the outside of your life.

I am from my daddy, a hard worker with a big heart.

I am from Artie - we grew up together. Picnics at Miliken, days at Carowinds, nights eating tacos and watching movies, hours upon hours planning our lives together (seems like there was talk of having a baby or two?), :-) lots of smooching in a little white Celica. :-) I am who I am because of him.

But most of all, I am from my mama. My heart and soul. My desire. My example.

Looking back over my life as I write, the coolest thing is seeing everyone who made me who I am - all love Jesus. I have been so blessed with such a godly heritage. God is good!!